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Graduate School Forum

Adapting to the New Rules of International Affairs

Introduction by Carmen Iezzi Mezzera

Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (@apsiainfo)

Long-standing assumptions about how the world works are under pressure. One-off transactions undercut established institutions. Centers of power are shifting. Cross-border crises have intensified and are remaking the nature of international cooperation.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is sparking innovation and disrupting the ways societies interact. Technology is altering the way truths and falsehoods are disseminated.

Training in international affairs and policy builds a critical expertise to recognize the cultural, economic, social, and political forces at work in a new world order. It challenges students to develop communications, leadership, and teamwork skills. An interdisciplinary curriculum and a rich community of people integrate differing ideas. Graduates distinguish themselves by their flexibility and adaptability. They can separate facts from opinions.

As you begin your search for a master’s program, consider how schools examine the traditional and fluctuating rules of the game. Look at how the school provides a solid foundation and offers insight into emerging issues. Consider how you can gain the skills to lead on the global, national, and local levels. Ask how the school anticipates and works to understand changes to the way people work and live.

International affairs graduates master underlying principles of an ever-changing world to prepare for the future—whatever it holds.